that it was happening. tell us what happened. >> no, they didn't, andrea. we came around here after the shocking news, and all the cameras came down, and what the tourists saw is what's going on. everybody was just wandering around st. peter's square like it was a normal day, of course, and when we told them that the pope was abdicating they were shocked. they couldn't even -- they didn't even know that a pope could abdicate, as a matter of fact. in a way money knew in a way because the last pope that did that was about 700 years ago. it was in 1294. it seemed like it was impossible in modern times, but pope benedict xvi hinted that in 2010 and a mof times after that that if he felt that his strength wasn't such that he could carry on the very important duties of a pope, that he would think about it at least, but nobody saw that coming. this morning he announced that in latin so it made it even more difficult for people to get that through that little speech that he gave to a number of cauldrons in a low key event. he just passed it on as an everyday kind of duty, and that was it. t

all. passing out p ze dispensers full of birth control pills. using the lord's name's in vein, coveting thy neighbor's wife, killing anybody you want. it will be like being a presbyterian. >>> good day. i'm andrea mitchell live in washington. the president will be putting the economy front and center in tonight's state of the union address, but a nuclear test from a growing threat overseas has foreign policy back in the spotlight. joining me now for our daily fix, chris calizza, managing editor of post politics.com, and mike allen, politico's chief white house correspondent. welcome both, chris. the timing of this -- in terms of the -- what north korea might be doing. we've got the south korean inaugural coming up february 25th. the state of the union tonight. the president still will speak tonight about north korea. his focus is on the economy and his outline for the budget plans. >> first of all, i generally believe certainly in domestic politics that in terms of teaming and that's probably true. we expabded it to the global state. i will say senior advisor to the president

chances are that you walk into this sistine chapel behind us as cardinal and come out the next pope. >> about the same as me take a-rod's place for the yankees. >> there's a new york analogy for you. ann thompson live from the vatican, and joins me now. ann, what an extraordinary day. i can't even imagine being in your shoes, and they're not red pradas, i assume. >> no. >> seeing all this take place. what is the emotional part of this, and also that very interesting message that he pledged basically obedience to his successor. he is not going to be quarterbacking from the sidelines. >> no, and i think he tried to make that very clear today, andrea. i think two things about this day. we have seen pope benedict sort of ad lib his final day. he wasn't supposed to make a speech to the cardinals today, and he decided to make that speech. anybody who is wondering how catholic church would deal with a pope and a pope ameritus, he made it very clear that he is going to step back, step away from power, he is going to live a life of prayer and meditation. that was the first thing. the second